Word of Mouth: PDQ Bread

PDQ Bread, noun: General term for breads that can be quickly made in about an hour by using baking soda and/or baking powder as the leavening. "PDQ" stands for "Pretty Darned Quick"!

Quick breads are a revelation for those of us who struggle with yeast but love making fresh bread at home. What's your favorite kind of PDQ bread?

PDQ breads are "quick" in two senses: the batter can be mixed in a matter of minutes and the loaves can be baked off right away. All you do is gently stir the liquids into the dry ingredients, pour the batter into a loaf pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. With no time spent kneading or waiting for dough to rise, we can have a loaf of bread ready to eat by the time we finish making dinner!

These breads are also quick in that they get eaten just about as fast as you make them. They can be sweet or savory, plain or filled with fruits, nuts, cheese, and other add-ins. Because they're made quickly and use baking soda or powder as the leavening, PDQ breads have a very tender, nearly cake-like crumb. The addition of eggs, dairy, and sugar also ensures a moist, rich loaf.